Charles Sotheran
Charles Sotheran (1847–1902) was present at the founding of the Theosophical Society in September, 1875. He was an antiquarian, bookseller, and journalist.
Historian Josephine Ransom said of him:
CHARLES SOTHERAN was a relative of the famous London booksellers of the same name. He was with Sabin and Sons, Book-sellers, New York, and connected in a literary way with their journal The American Bibliopolist. His temperament kept him and his friends in a turmoil. Three months after The Society was formed there was trouble, as Sotheran not only made inflammatory speeches at a political street meeting, to which H. P. B. objected, but he wrote bitterly in the newspapers against her and The Society. His resignation was accepted, and for the sake of protection, The Society was made into a secret body, with signs and passwords. Six months later Sotheran apologised and was taken back into membership. He gave useful help to H. P. B. in finding quotations and borrowing books for her during the writing of Isis Unveiled. Sotheran later published a small short-lived journal called The Echo. He became a considerable nuisance to H. P. B. and H. S. O., and after their departure to India was not again mentioned.[1]
Political activities
After leaving the Theosophical Society, Sotheran helped to organize the Socialist Labor Party and ran for Congress in 1894, in New York, on a populist ticket. He was expelled from the SLP and joined the Socialist Party.[2]
Writings
Sotheran wrote for New York papers including The Sun and The World. He also wrote books:
- Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer. New York: C. P. Somerby, 1876.
- Horace Greeley and Other Pioneers of American Socialism. New York: Humboldt Publishing, 1892.
Other resources
- Letter to the editor, The Banner of Light, (January 15, 1876), 5. Sotheran explains his resignation from the Theosophical Society on January 5, 1976. Available at Blavatsky Archives website.